COLUMBUS, Ohio – Prior to leaving for their second and final scrimmage before opening the 2018 regular season next Saturday at Cleveland State, senior captains Erik Evans and Colin Chell caught up with OhioStateBuckeyes.com to talk about several topics, including:

• How practice in January has been progressing; • Their leadership styles and how they tried to mentor younger players; • The impact of the “Buckeye Way”

Earlier in the week, the Buckeyes debuted at No. 8 in the USILA/Nike Lacrosse Coaches Preseason Poll. They are primed to face nine Top 20 teams on their 2018 schedule, including three that are among the top 10.

The Buckeyes return four of their top six scorers, all three starting close defensemen and three All-American’s from last year’s 16-5 squad. Ohio State makes a trip up I-71 next Saturday to open the 2018 season against in-state foe Cleveland State. The Buckeyes and Vikings are the only two Division I programs in the state of Ohio.